Camera



Jan. 26, 1943. A. BRIECHLE ETAL CAMERA Original Filed March 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 26, 1943.

A. BRIECHLE ETAL CAMERA Original Filed March 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 26, 1943. A. BRIECHL ET AL 2,309,300

CAMERA Original Filed March 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ITT I02 H42. l04 I5 8 INVENTORfi W444 M, fry

y Md 6. WM

ffflawcvm ATTORNEY.

Jan. 26, 1943. A. BRIECHLE ETAL 2,309,300

CAMERA Original Filed March 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I lee; L

e 1'25: 227 zzz y Z54 m iii 13 210 2.15 F I 9 is 220 z 'ISZ Z18 32G 2J5 IN VENTORS Pat'enteci'Jan. 26, 1943 CAMERk Ambrosius Briechle, Brooklyn, Roy '1. Hurley,

Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., and George E. Merritt, Luaby, Md., assignors to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 22, 1939, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 23, 1939, Serial No. 300,730

18 Claims.

This invention relates to camera apparatus, and more particularly to shutter mechanisms and the control apparatus therefor.

This application is a division of the copending application Serial No. 197,402 filed March 22, 1939, for Bombing camera (now Patent No.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel shutter mechanism having a curtain shutter adapted for operation in an aerial camera.

Another object is to provide a shutter mechanism having a novel curtain shutter.

A further object is to provide a novel mechanism adapted to control the energization and release of the shutter actuating power means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a camera shutter comprising a novel curtain,

said curtain being operable between the elements of the camera lens and having novel drive rolls 1 whereby compensation for change in diameter of the curtain roller is made and whereby the curtain may be held taut. 1

Further objects include theprovision of a novel driving means in combination with the curtain rolls of the shutter for driving the same, and

the limits of the invention, reference being pri- I marily had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

operating position and showing the fluid conduit connection from the cone to the magazine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 with the-cone and cover in operating position;

. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line '|I of Fig. 6;

- Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of-Fig. 3 and showing a means for locking the pressure plate against accidental or inadvertent movement afterremoval of the cone;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 7; A

Fig. 10 is a top plan view, with parts broken away and partly in section, the section being taken substantially on line I0-l0 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view, with par broken away, taken substantially on line Hll of Fig. 10; I

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line |z--|2 of Fig.10;

Fig. 13 is a similar view taken on line l3-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14,'is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially on line it -i4 of Fig. 1, showing, partly in plan and partly in section, the shutter mechanism and the control and drive therefor;

' Fig. 15 is' a somewhat enlarged rear elevation, partly in section, showing a form of spring drive utilized for, motivating the shutter rolls;

In the drawingalwherein like reference charac':

ters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. i is a front elevation, with parts broke away and partly in section, of one embodiment of the present invention, showing-a cone, a magazine and a cover in normal operative positions; f Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of the film roll drive taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a detail top plan View of the magazine with the cover removedi I I Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the magazine with the cone and cover removed and with parts broken away to show the details of the counter structure; K 1

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3 with the cone and cover in i Fig. 16 is a similar view'taken substantially on line [8-46 of Fig. 14; 4

Fig. [1 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on line \I 1-n of Fig. 14, showings. form of cam means adaptable for releasing the shutter curtain;

Fig. 18 is a similar view taken substantially on line l8l8 of Fig. .14; and

Fig. 19 isasectional view taken substantially on line l9'-l9 of Fig. 14, showing the relative positions of the shutter mechanism and the lenses. I

In the illustrated, embodiment, the camera of the present invention is shown as having two 7 major secticns, i. e., a magazine 23 in which the and light-proof and to-cooperate with partsof the magazine and perform otheruseful functions, to appear later. It will be noted that the section housing the film and the section housing the.

lenses are, by the present construction, adjacent each other permitting means, hereinafter more fully described, to be utilized which may fix the film plane independently of the accuracy with which the cone is mounted on said magazine.

Magazine and cover Magazine 23 comprises a main casting 25 having two longitudinally spaced, upwardly extending walls 21 and 23 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6), which walls, in combination with cover 25, form a central chamber 29, in said magazine. Two film rolls 39 and 3| (Fig. 7) are adapted for rotation about fixed longitudinal axes in said chamber, and the unexposed film, preferably wound upon roll 30, is adapted to be unwound therefrom and exposed by means to be hereinafter more fully described, and then rewound upon roll 3|. Rolls 30 and 31 are alike and of the standard type con- 1 struction well-known to the art, having two end pieces of circular shape in the form of discs and a central cylinder of a lesser diameter than said end pieces upon which the film is wound.

Heretofore, film rolls for aerial cameras have been fixed for rotation in the magazines of said cameras by trunnions located at the centers of rotation. However, in the present device, in order to facilitate camera loading, this method of central support has been eliminated and novel means are provided whereby the film rolls are positioned for rotation about fixed longitudinal axes by merely inserting the rolls into the magazine chamber in the general direction of the final position which said rolls will assume. The novel means consist of a three-point support for each of the film-roll end pieces, two of said supports in each instance serving to determine the film roll position and the third applying the pressure to fix the end pieces of the rolls in position for rotation with the supports.

As shown in Figs. 3 and '7, the supports determining the position of roll 30 are mounted on two shafts 32 and 33 which are journalled for rotation in walls 21 and 28 and which extend longitudinally therebetween. Mounted ,on the ends of the shaft 32 adjacent the internal faces of the walls 21 and 28, respectively, are supporting rolls 34 and 35 on which the end pieces of film roll 30 are adapted to rotate. Similarly mounted for the same purpose on shaft 33 are rolls 38 and 31 and a similar construction comprising shafts 38 and 39 and supporting rolls '49, 4|, 42 and 43 is provided for mounting film roll 3|.

Placing the end pieces of each film roll on the supports hereinbefore described determines the longitudinal axes of rotation for the film rolls. However, to fix the film roll end pieces so that they will remain'in contact, and rotate with the and are pivotally mounted on a second shaft 49 which, in turn, is journalled in suitable bearings in an upper central portion 59 of the magazine casting. Portion 50 may be cast integrally with the main casting of the magazine or may be suitably aflixed to said casting between walls 21 and shaft 49. Each of said springs has one end thereof bearing upon one of the arms 41 or 49 and the other end thereof bearing upon portion 50 and each tends to expand and urge the arm with which it cooperates into engagement with film roll 30. The force exerted upon said roll due to said springs is only sufficient to prevent said roll from falling out of said magazine when the same is inverted with cover 25 removed, as, for example, when the film is being threaded into position. A structure which is the duplicate of the above described means for holding roll 39 in operative position is also provided for holding roll.3l and comprises coil springs 53 and 54, arms 55 and 56 pivotal about a shaft 51 and rolls 58 and 59 mounted upon a shaft 50. Other resilient means, in the form of a leaf spring 50a, are also provided in cover 25 being suitably secured thereto to have the spring ends bear against the central portions of shafts 45 and 50 and thereby yieldingly urge the supporting rolls mounted on said shafts into engagement with the film rolls.

After inserting film rolls 30 and 3| into the magazine by merely raising shafts 59 and 46 (the cover being removed), and dropping said film rolls in position, the loading of the camera is effected by threading the film 5| (shown by a broken line in Fig. '7), from roll 30, over an idler roll 52, fixed to shaft 32 (Fig. 9), then under a pressure plate 53, and thence over a metering drum 54 to film roll 3 I, said metering drum being secured to and rotatable with shaft 39. The film is fixed to roll 3| by any suitable method, as, for example, by insertion of the end of the'film into a slot arranged therefor in the cylinder of said roll.

After the film has been loaded into the magazine in the manner above described, cover 25 is placed thereon. The walls 21 and 28 (Fig. 6) have flanges and 56, respectively, extending the length of the upper edges thereof and said fianges are adapted to fit into grooves 61 and 53, respectively, provided therefor in cover 25 and to thereby form a light trap keeping light from entering chamber 29. Similar light traps between the lower edge of said cover and magazine casting 26, comprising flanges 59 and 10 (Fig. 7) in said magazine and grooves H and 12 in said cover, complete the means whereby chamber 29 is kept light-proof. To keep the magazine inyielding substance such as rubber or felt fixed therein. The bottom of the cover when the latter is correctly positioned on the magazine fits over said strip and compresses the same, thereby producing a dust-proof joint or connection between said magazine and cone.

Novel means are provided for locking cover 25 to magazine 23 by merely placing said cover over said magazine and then exerting a slight downward pressure thereon. After the cover has been thus fixed in position, release of said locking means can only be eff cted by rotation of a thumb screw 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) thus insuring against accidental or inadvertent removal of the cover during operation of the camera. As shown, said locking means comprises a shaft 14 mounted for rotation in bearings 15 and I 6 located in walls 21 and 23, respectively, and in upwardly extending lugs 11 and 19 (Figs. 6 and '7) cast integrally with or rigidly fixed to portion 50 of the magazine drum.

casting. Shaft-14 has a part thereof projecting of the latter extends through .portion 50 and is held against axial movement by means of a collar 4 is preferably provided in wall 28 directly oppo- 85 aflixed thereto. A portion 88 of said shaft also extends upwardly above gear 82 and is suitably threaded so that a split nut 81 secured to cover 25 may engage the same. Said nut is split into two segments, each of which is pivotally mounted in a casting '88 fixed to cover 25 and a coil spring 88 is wound about said segments to keep the same together and normally operative as a single nut. .However, threaded portion" of shaft. 84 maybe made to engage the split nut without being screwed into said nut by having the latter forced down upon it, thereby prying apart the segments of said nut against the constricting force of coil spring 88, and permitting said threaded portion to be grasped by said nut. Thumb screw,13 may be'rotated thereafter to further increase the threaded engagement between frictional force which tends to retard the rotation of film roll 80. A hollow boss 88 is cast integrally with wall 21 of the magazine and friction disc 85 is mounted on a rod 81 which extends through said boss and has a'collar 88 secured to the outerend thereof. Disc 85 is held in frictional engagement with the end piece of roll 30 .by the expansive force of coil spring 88 interposed between said disc and the bottom of said boss and surrounding rod 81 within said boss. A pin. I00, mounted in wall 21 and extending into an opening IOI in disc 85, holds said disc against rotary movement. A similar disc (not shown) site disc 85 for the other end piece of film roll 80. As a result, a pull must be exerted upon the film which issuflicient to overcome the resistis wound on roll 8|, the latter'being frictionally driven by supporting rolls 40 and H (Figs. 2 and 3) .on which the end pieces of said film roll rest. The end pieces are adapted to slip-.on said supporting'rolls while being driven thereby because nut 81 and portion 88, threading the latter into I the former through the worm and gear 80, 82. A

.split nut means similar to .thatdescribed above is provided for cooperating with worm'and gear 8|, 83, so that rotationof shaft 14 bythumb screw 18, also controls the locking and releasing of said unit. Both units areunlocked for removal of the cover by rotation of shaft 14, said shaft 'operating the worm and gear-drives of the threaded shafts and causing rotation of said threaded shafts in a direction to unscrew thesame from the split nuts.

In order to expose a new frame of film after each photograph is taken metering "drum 64 is. rotated through a predetermined ,angular distance after each exposure and novel means are.

' provided for maintaining the film in contact with' said drum during rotation thereof so that the film may be accurately me tered thereby. The novel means comprise a pressure roll 90 (Fig. 7) suitably mounted on a shaft 8i which is journalled at each end in a bracket 82, pivotally mounted by means of a pin 83 on the inner wall of cover 25. Resilient means, such as aleaf spring 84,

. are secured to said bracket, and when the cover is tween rolls during loading is eliminated and the process of loading is accomplished more readily and more quickly than heretofore in cameras which had the pressure roll and the metering roll mounted in the magazine in fixed relation to each other.

Movement of the film by means of metering drum'84 rotates idler roll '82 and unwinds the film from film roll 80, causing the latter to rotate in a clockwise'direction as viewed in Fig.1 In

order to frictionally resist the free rotation of said film roll and keep the film under a slight tension so 'as to minimize the possibility of wrinkling,'means, such as a friction disc 85 (Fig. 9), are provided in the magazine for applying a the speed at which said supporting rolls't-end to drive the film is in excess of the speed at which said film roll must rotate to take up all the film passing from the metering drum. As a result,

the film is kept taut between said drum and said I film roll while being wound upon the latter. Means located in the cone, to be hereinafter more fully described, are provided for driving the mechanism which imparts rotaryv motion to the metering drum 64 for moving the film and to the two supporting rolls 40 and H for driving film roll 8i. member of a jaw coupling I02 (Figs. 1 and'8) integral with or suitably fixed to a hollow shaft 9 I03, said shaft being journalled for rotation in a set of ball' bearings I04. A bevel gear I05 securedto the upper end of shaft I03 meshes with 'a bevel gear I08 affixed to a shaft I01 and is I adapted to drive the latter which is journalled for rotation in suitable bearings mounted in a pair of downwardly extending arms I08, I09 of a bracket I I0. The latter is secured by screws III to the outside face of wall 21 of the magazine castingl To actuate supporting rolls 40 and H, a shaft 4 H2 is drivably connected to shaft I 01 by means of a pair of engaging helical gears I I3 and I I4, the former being fixed to shaft I01 and the latter to the end 'of shaft H2. The latter extends through and is journalled for rotation in walls 7 21 and 28 and has secured thereto a pair of spur gears H5 and H8. (Fig. 3),,gear. I;I5 (Fig. 2) being mounted adjacent the outside face of wall 21 and meshing with spur gear H1. The latter is keyed to the hub of supporting roll 40, which bears on but rotates freely of shaft 88, and drives said roll. Spur gear IIG (Fig. 3) isv similarly mounted adjacent the outside face of wall 28 and meshesw'ith gear II8, to drive supporting roll 4I atthe same speed and in the same man"- ner'as roll 40 is driven. Accordingly, film roll 3| is driven at both ends by supporting rolls 40 and II and applies a. uniform force across the width of the [film during the winding thereof.

Metering drum 84 is rotated by a worm I18 (Figs. 1 and 8) fixed to shaft I01 and a worm wheel I20 fixed to shaft 88, the latter shaft having said drum secured vthereto for rotation there- 'Said mechanism comprises an upper with. The worm drive rotates drum 64 at a slower speed than the helical drive through which supporting rolls 40 and H are driven, producing the tension in the portion of film between said metering roll and the film roll.

In order to provide exact and clear photographs, a high degree of accuracy in fixing the film plane, so that it coincides with the focal plane, is necessary. Novel means, mounted in the magazine and adapted to cooperate with cone 24, are provided for locating the film plane, said means comprising pressure plate 63 (Fig. '7) and an accurately finished, plane surface I2I which fixes the position of the film and the pressure plate plane with relation to the lenses. Surface I2I which is a part of the cone casting is accurately finished in a plane and the lenses are subsequently adjusted to have the focal plane thereof coincide with said plane. Pressure plate 53 is preferably a metal casting, substantially rectangular in shape, having its lower face finished and grooved and being of sufficient size to cover an opening I22 in the upper end of the cone casting. The film is urged into contact with the base of said pressure plate by means to be described hereafter, and the sensitive side of said film is exposed in the direction of opening I22 so that a photographic impression may be-made thereon when the shutter is released. Surface I2I is the top surface of a fiange I23 integral with the upper end of the cone casting, said flange defining opening I22.

Normally, pressure plate 53 is yieldingly urged into contact with finished surface I2I of the cone casting by means comprising a pair of vertical arms or rods I24 and I25 (Fig. 6), mounted in recesses provided therefor in said pressure plate and held in said recesses by pins I26 and I21, respectively. A pair of inwardly extending lugs I28 and I29 cast integrally with wall 21 are provided having openings suitably bored therein in which rod I24 is slidably mounted and which guide said rod in any vertical movement thereof. A collar I30 is fixed to rod I24 between lugs I23 and I29 and a compressed coil spring I3I is mounted between said collar and upper lug I28, surrounding said rod and exerting an expansive force upon collar I30 which tends to move plate 63 in a downward direction into contact with cone surface I2I. A similar structure to that above described, comprising lugs I32 and I33, coil spring I34 and collar I35, is provided in combination withrod I25 and exerts a downward force, augmenting the force of spring I3I upon the pressure plate. Rods I24 and I25 are loosely mounted in the openings provided therefor in the guiding lugs, an appreciable clearance existing between said openings and said rods in order that the base plane of the pressureplate may be aligned by the plane of finished surface I2I when brought in contact therewith even though the magazine i slightly askew in relation to the cone. As a result, pressure plate 53 is normally yieldingly held in the plane of finished surface I2I, i. e., the focal plane of the camera lenses, and positions the film accordingly.

In order to expose a new frame of film after a photograph has been taken, the force normally exerted upon the film by pressure plate 83 must be overcome so that metering roll 64 may move the film; Accordingly, means are provided whereby pressure plate 33 is raised against the force of springs HI and I34, relieving the pressure upon the film and permitting free movement thereof, said means, as shown, comprising a pair of arms or levers I36 and I31 which extend into slots I38 and I 39, respectively. Blot I33 is adjacent to rod I24, being suitably positioned in the pressure platecasting to have pin I26 extend therethrough and to have said pin engaged by the pronged end of arm I35 (Fig. '1). Arm I31 similarly engages pin I21 and is, together with arm I36, secured to a shaft I 40 for rotation therewith. Shaft I40 is Joumalled In walls 21 and 23 and has a portion thereof extending outside of wall 21, to which a lever I is afilxed (Figs. 1,3, 6, and 8). Lever I is adapted to rotate shaft I 40 by transmitting thereto the reciprocal motion of a rod I42 (Fig. 8) sothat whenever rod I42 is raised, lever I4I rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and likewise moves arms I33 and I31, thereby lifting pressure plate 63 sufficiently to clear the path of the film travel.

Rod I42 which reciprocates and actuates the above described mechanism for raising pressure plate 63 is mounted concentrically with shaft I03 in the hollowed center thereof. The reciprocal movement i imparted to said rod by cam means, to be hereinafter more fully described, said means being suitably timed to move rod I42 in an upward direction raising pressure plate 53 once after each exposure and keeping said pressure plate in a raised position during the interval in which the exposed frame of film is displaced by an unexposed frame. When said unexposed film frame has been suitably positioned between said pressure plate and surface I2I of the cone, the former is lowered into engagement with the latter and frictionally holds the film in the focal plane.

In order to eliminate any wrinkles or creases existent in the film after the same has been moved by metering roll 54 into position under pressure plate 63, novel means are provided whereby the film is urged by fiuid pressure, against the base plane of said pressure plate, and is thereby smoothed out before being lowered into the fixed plane of cone surface I2I. As a further precaution against wrinkling and creasing, and also to definitely fix the film in the focal plane, the same novel means are used a second time and urge the film into contact with the pressure plate when the shutter mechanism releases the shutter curtain to expose the film.

The novel fluid pressure means comprise a series of longitudinal and lateral channels or grooves I43 machined or cast in the base plane of pressure plate 63 in such a manner that when a plane surface of any nat e is brought into contact with the base pla e of said pressure plate, said grooves constitute a group of fluid conduits each of which is connected to every other. An annular flange I44 (Figs. 6 and '1) preferably located at the center of pressure plate 63, is cast integrally with the, upper surface of said pressure plate and has a, cap or cover plate I45 secured thereto by means such as screws I48. Cap I45 is preferably formed with a. raised central portion I41 and together with flange I44 constitutes a fluid chamber I40 which'is connected by a. number of openings or passages I43 0nd flexible conduit I52 when the cone and mag-' azine are operatively assembled. A suitable washer I Ia is interposed between conduit I52 and the end of a tube I5 Ib which forms the lower portion of passage I5I. The suction passage is .broken at the washer when the magazine is regrooves I43 whereby the film, even though loose- 1y stretched across the base of pressure plate 63 is forced into contact with said base. In this manner, the film is fixed in the plane of the base of said pressure plate and when'the latter is in lowered position and supported by finished surface I2I, said base plane in which the'film is fixed is, coincident with the focal plane. Said pressure means also operate to fix the film in the focal plane immediately prior to the release of the shutter mechanism. It will be understood that the above described results may be produced by utilizing suitable pressure means to create a pressure above atmospheric in the camera cone and by opening grooves I43 to the atmospheric pressure in the magazine, thereby producing a pressure differential tending to force the film into contact with the pressure plate.

In order to indicate the number of exposures made upon the film, a counter (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) is provided in the magazine and is adapted to register each exposure by the movement of callbrated drum I54 past stationary index mark I55, said drum and mark being visible through a window I56 (Fig. 6) conveniently positioned in the cover. A casing I51 surrounds drum I54 exposing only the portion visible through window I56 and as shown is attached towall 26 by a screw I56. A ratchet wheel I59 (Figs. 3 and 4) is integral with-or suitably fixed to drum I54 and is provided with a-hub member I66, the unit being rotatably mounted on a shaft I6I fixed between casing I51 and magazine wall 26. A coil spring I62 having one end thereof secured to a flange I63 on hub member I66 and the other end fixed to wall 26, normally opposes rotary movement of ratchet wheel I59 and always tends to return drum I54, after rotation of the same, to zero position.

Since the pressure plate and, therefore, rods I24 and I25, are raised once for every exposure, every upward movement of said rod I is utilized in the present invention to motivate the means for rotating ratchet wheel I56 and drum I54 to indicate another exposure. comprise a lever I64 (Fig. 4) having a bifurcated end which fits into a slot I65 provided therefor in arm I25, and which engagesa pin I66 fixed to said arm and extending through said slot. The other end of lever I64 is secured to a shaft I61 which is journalled in and extends through wall 26 and which has a second lever I66 fastened thereto on the other side of said wall. Levers I64 and I68 and shaft I61 rotates as a unit and, therefore, when arm I25 moves upward, lever I66, on the opposite side or the fulcrum moves downward. A pawl I66, pivotally mounted on the end of lever I66 and resiliently urged by a spring I16 in the direction of ratchet wheel I56, engages said wheel when said lever is moved Said means downward and rotates the former a predetermined number of notches, thereby rotating drum I64 a single graduation past index mark I66. When lever I66 is moved upward, moving pawl I66 therewith, a pin I1 I, fixed to wall 26 and extending perpendicularly therefrom, is adapted to engage pawl I66 and cause thesame to disengage from ratchet wheel I56.

Novel means, rendered operable by pressing cover 25 into locked position with magazine 23, are provided for holding ratchet wheel I63 against rotation by spring I62, in a direction to return indicating drum I64 to a zero reading. Said means comprise. a cantilever spring I12 fixed to casing I51 and having a curved end extending downwardly in the direction of ratchet wheel I56,

said end being adapted to hold said wheel, as

viewed in Fig. 4, against rotation in a counterclockwise direction, when moved into engagement therewith. A member I13 slidably mounted in casing I61is supported by spring I12 and when cover 25 is removed extends beyond the upper surface of said casing. However, when said cover is replaced, a part thereof, in the form of lug I14 (Fig. 6) bears against and moves member I13 downward, thereby moving spring l12 into engagement with ratchet wheel I56. As a result, whenever cover 25 is removedfrom magazine 23, indicating drum I54 is returned to zero position by the action of spring I62, so that indicating drum I54 usually registers the number of exposures made from the time the cover has been positioned on the magazine.

After a film roll has been fully exposed or perhaps during exposure thereof, an occasion for removal of the magazine from the cone may arise. A novel safety latch is provided in combination with pressure plate actuating lever I for holding the pressure plate in lowered position against the magazine casting, thereby preventing admittance of light into the magazine. The novel latch comprises a lever 335 (Figs. 1 and 8) pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof to lever I in a substantially vertical position. The upper end of lever 335 is resiliently urged, by a spring 336 fixed between said end and lever I4 I to move in a clockwise direction. The lower end of lever 335 extends through an opening331 in the magazine base and is provided with a pair of notches or openings 336 and 336, the former being positioned above the latter, and being adapted to engage a plate 346'suitab1y ailixed to the base of the magazine and projecting beyond opening 331. With the cone removed, pressure plate 63 is in lowered position and spring 336 urges lever 336 in a direction to have. plate 346 engage notch 336 and hold the pressure plate in the lowered position against any accidental or inadvertent raising thereof. When the cone is fixed to the magazine, a lug 3 shown in broken lines in Fig. 8 engages the lower end of lever 335 and moves said lever and the notches therein away from plate 346, and out of engagement with 335. After removal of the magazine, lever 336 may be manually operated and raised so that notch 336, instead of notch 336, engages plate 34], thereby holding actuating lever I and pressure plate 63 in raised position.

Cone

Cone 24 comprises a central casting I substantially square in horizontal cross-section and preferably having each side thereof similar in contour to the shape of the side shown in section in Fig. 11. A casing I16, affixed to said casting and surrounding the same, encloses the driving and control mechanisms, to be hereinafter more fully described, which are mounted on said casting. Locking means are provided for securing magazine 23 to said cone and, as shown in Fig. 1, said locking means comprise a shaft I11 mounted for rotation in casting I15 and adapted to be rotated by a thumb screw I18 mounted on and secured to said shaft intermediate the bearings therefor and readily accessible from the outside of casing I16. Rotation of shaft I11. by thumb screw I18 causes axial movement of members I18 into which ends I88 of said shaft are threaded, said members being slidably mounted in casting I15 and constrained to axial movement by pins I8I fixed therein and radially extending therefrom, into longitudinal grooves I82 in said casting. The longitudinal displacement of members I18 caused by rotation of thumb screw I18 moves said members into or out of openings I83 provided therefor in magazine 23 and locks or unlocks cone 24 into or from operative position upon said magazine. In the embodiment illustrated, a second look, of like construction to the above, is provided in the cone, and engages the opposite side of magazine 23.

The camera is operable either by manual or motor means and is shown as having a readily accessible hand crank I84 and a motor I84a, either of which may be utilized for actuating the driving and control mechanisms of the camera.

Crank I84 is mounted on a shaft I85 and direct- 1y rotates ,'when turned, a bevel gear I86 which is formed with or secured to said shaft (Figs. 1 and 10). Bevel gear I86 meshes with.a second bevel gear I81 and thereby drives, through spur gear I88, the latter two gears being mounted on the same shaft, two gears I88 and I88, which mesh with said spur gear. Motor I840 is connected by spring coupling I85a to gear I88, said coupling being of the type adapted to transmit a torque in only one direction, 1. e., making a driving connection from the motor to the gear only.

Gear I88 is integral with or suitably keyed to a shaft I8I, said shaft being mounted for rotation in downwardly extending brackets I82 and having a worm I83 and a jaw clutch plate I84 mounted thereon. Clutch plate I 84 is adapted to operatively engage a corresponding plate I85 affixed to a second shaft I86 and to drive said second shaft when so engaged. Shaft I86 extends through and is journalled in brackets I81 and has a bevel gear I88 mounted thereon which meshes with a second bevel gear I88, the latter being secured to a hollow shaft 288, and thereby being adapted to drive the lower member of law coupling I82 which is also secured to said hollow shaft. Jaw coupling I 82 has the upper and lower portions thereof operatively engaged and directly connecting shafts 288 and I88 when the cone is locked to the magazine.

As hereinbefore described, shaft I83, when driven through coupling I82, actuates themechanism which meters the film and said film is metered during only a predetermined portion of the timenecessary fo the performance of the complete cycle of operations required to take each exposure. Accordingly, means are provided for automatically engaging and disengaging jaw clutch plates I84 and I at predetermined points of the operating cycle, thus controlling the operating period of the mechanism, including shaft I83 and metering drum 64 which is driven from clutch plate I85. In order to be disengaged from clutch plate I85, plate I84 is slidably keyed'to shaft I8I and has a collar 28I integral therewith, said collar being adapted to cooperate with a yoke 282. Yoke 282 is formed integrally with a pivotal arm or lever 283 on which a roller follower 284 (Fig. 10) is mounted, the latter being actuated by a cam 285 and being urged into contact with said cam by a coil spring 283a fixed at one end to cone casting I15 and at the other end to arm 283. Rotation of said cam oscillates arm 283 and thereby actuates collar MI and controls the engagement of clutch I84, I85.

Cam 285 is mounted on a shaft 286 which is driven through a worm and worm wheel drive, comprising worm I83 and a worm wheel 281, from shaft I8I and, therefore, is continuously rotating during the cycle of operations. The gears are preferably designed so that cam 285 moves a single revolution during each cycle of operations and said cam is designed to keep clutch I84, I85 ngaged during approximately a half of said cycle, the film being accurately metered by drum 64 during said half cycle.

For the purpose of raising pressure plate 63 once during each cycle of operations, to free the film for metering in accordance with the above described method, means are provided for actuating rod I42 (Fig. 8) which, as hereinbefore described, operates the mechanism for raising and lowering said pressure plate. A rod 288 (Fig. i) is slidably mounted in and extends through hollow shaft 288 and, when jaw clutch I82 is drivingly engaged, said rod is adapted to move upward and have its upper end bear against the lower end of rod I42, lifting the latter rod and raising pressure plate 63 through arm I. The reciprocal movement is imparted to rod 288 through a cam mechanism comprising a roller cam follower 288 and a cam 2I8, the former being pivotally fixed to the portion of said rod extending beneath bevel gear I88 and the latter being mounted on a shaft 2, which is driven through a helical gear 2I2 mounted thereon and meshing with a second helical gear 2I3 secured to shaft 286. Shaft 2I I is thus driven from crank I84 or motor I84a and rotates continuously during the cycle of operations and preferably moves a single revolution causing cam 2"] to raise and lower pressure plate 63 once during each cycle.

In order to produce the suction which fixes the film in the best plane of pressure plate 68, pressure means comprising a plurality of bellows are provided, said bellows being adapted to expand rapidly from a collapsed position and thus have the pressures therein materially decreased.

.Il'ithe illustrated embodiment,.two bellows 2I5,

2I5 (Fig. 10) are shown as being supported on a member 2I6 carried on casting I15, said member having an opening 2" (Fig. 11) therethrough which connects each of said bellows to conduit I52 and, therefore, to chamber I48. Thus, a suction, if created in said bellows, will also exist in said chamber and in grooves I48, urging the film into contact with pressure plate 63.

Bellows 2I5 are collapsed by suitable means against the resisting force of coil springs 2I8 located within said bellows me, when said 001- lapslng means are released, said springs tend to return to normal position, thereby rapidly expanding the bellows. The collapsing means comprise a plate or bar 2l9 which extends over and rests upon the tops of said bellows and may be fixed thereto, and a rod 228 fixed to said bar intermediate the ends thereof. Rod 228 has gear teeth formed thereon. and constitutes a rack which meshes with a pinion 22l freely mounted for rotation on a shaft 222, said shaft bein journalled in and extending between brackets 223 and 224 secured to cone casting I15. A lug 225 is formed integrally with bracket 223 and has an opening therein in which rod 220 is mounted and which guides said rod during reciprocal motion thereof. Another lug 226 provided with an opening therein is also formed integrally with bracket 223 and serves as a uide for a rod 221 fixed to plate H9 and extending upwardly therefrom parallel to rod 220, said lugs and said rods keeping plate 2 l 8 horizontal during the collapsing md expansion of bellows 2 l 5.

When pinion 22] rotates in a clockwise diection, as viewed in Fig. 13, rack or rod 220 is moved downward, said downward motion being transmitted by plate 2|9 to bellows 2I5, collapsing said bellows against the resistive force of springs 2l8. This rotation of pinion 22! is accomplished by a pawl 228 (Fig. 12) pivotally mounted to a gear 299 and rotatable therewith, said pawl engaging notches in a hub 238 of said pinion and being held in engaged position with said notches by a plate spring 21 fixed to said gear. Plate spring 23! applies a counter-clockwise torque to pawl 228 which, when overcome,

causes said pawl to pivot in a clockwise direction and release hub 238, thereby releasing pinion 22| for free rotation about shaft 222.

Gear 229 is mounted on shaft 222 and is driven by a gear 232 fixed to a-shaft 233, the latter gear being adapted for continuous rotation during the operating cycle and accordingly continuously driving gear 229 in a clockwise direction. Shaft 233 is driven by a worm and worm wheel 234 from a shaft 235 which, in turn, is driven through gear l90,'thereby constituting a drive from motor l84a.

For, reasons hereinbefore stated, a suction is to sired suction. For this purpose, a bracket'236 (Fig. 12) suitably fixed to casting I15 has an arm 231 extending vertically upward therefrom, said arm being adapted to engage 2. lug- 238 which is integral with pawl 228 and to apply a clockwise torque to said pawl by engaging said-lug. Application of said torque to said pawl causes the 238, thereby collapsing bellows M5 for a second time. When the bellows are fully collapsed, gear however, is moved for an exposure only by the second cyclic expansion of the bellows, the control mechanism being unresponsive to the first expansion.

Release of the bellows for the second cyclic expansion is accomplished either manually or automatically by means shown in Figs. 1-0 and 11.

. The manual means comprise afpush button 238 same to be released from hub 230 and thereby permits bellows 2 l 5 to expand and move the fllm into contact with pressure plate 63.- The release of said pawl from said hub is preferably timed, by suitable choice of gearing and suitable positioning of arm 231, to occur substantially at the moment when pressure plate 63 reaches the focal plane determined by surface I2 I.

As gear 229 continues to rotate, pain 228 moves past arm 23] andagain operatively engages hub 75 by nuts 241. having two arms 245 and 249 integral therewith slidably mounted in a supporting arm 239 of a handle 240, said arm being fixed to or integral with casting I15. A coil spring 2, interposed between push button 238 and arm 239, acts normally to project the upper portion of said button beyond the surface of said arm, and said button has the lower end thereof adapted to actuate one end of a lever 242. Lever 242 is fulcrumed for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis in a groove 243 in arm 239, by means of a screw or pin 244 mounted in said arm.. The other end of lever 242 extends through casing I16 into cone 24 and is adapted to engage an arm 245 of a pivotal member 246, said member being mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular. to the pivotal axis of lever 242, and being held in position on said axis Member 248 consists of a flat plate and disposed on oppositesides of the axis of rotation. Arm 249 extends parallel to said axis and engages a pin 258 slidably mounted in a support 25! fixed to bracket 224, said pin being yieldingly held against downward movement by suitable means such as a spring 252 positioned between said support and a bracket 253 secured to said pin. Support 25! is so mounted relative to gear 229' (Fig. 12) that pin 258 is directly over pawl 228 whenthe latter has caused bellows 215 to be collapsed for a second time, said pin being adapted to move said pawl clockwise when moved down ward.

To disengage pawl 228 from hub 238 and expand bellows 2l5, push button 238 is depressed against the resistance of coil spring 24I to actuate lever 242, thereby raising arm 245 of member 246 and lowering arm 249 by overcoming the resistance of spring 252. As arm 249 and therefore pin 258 are moved downward, the latter moves pawl 228, releasing pinion 221 and permitting springs 2I8 to expand bellows 2l5, thus creating a suction in the grooves I43 of pressure plate 63 and thereby causing the film to adhere to the base plane of said pressure plate.

A solenoid 254, shown in the illustrated embodiment as positioned beneath pivotal member 246;

is adapted, when. energized, to attract said member and thereby operate the pawl releasing mech- Shutter mechanism and lens A wide angle lens is supported by members 256 which are in turn supported and accurately aligned on. flanges 251 and 258 provided therefor in cone casting 5, said members being secured to said flanges by means such as screws 266a. It will be noted that the cone casting carries the lens members and also provides the surface for determining the plane of the film, thus minimizing the possibility of misalignment between the lens and the film plane when the former is positioned during assembly.

The image of the object to be photographed is focused on the film by said lenses and impressed thereon when said film is exposed to the light by movement of a novel shutter curtain 266. Curtain 259, which is mounted in a lovel manner so as to be operative between the lenses, is adapted to be moved. at various speeds to admit a predetermined amount of light through the lenses despite varying atmospheric conditions. Because of the rapidity with which the curtain must move in order to correctly control the passage of light, sudden forces of varying magnitudes are being intermittently applied in different directions to said curtain. In the present invention, in order to reduce or entirely eliminate the possibilities of some form of deformation in curtain 266 due to said forces, a novel curtain is provided. The latter is preferably composed of a suitable flexible metal such as beryllium copper, although a thin, finely meshed, metal screen which is impregnated with rubber or other opaque material may be successfully utilized.

Novel curtain drums or rolls 266 and 26I are provided for novelly mounting and driving curtain 259, and each comprises (Figs. 14 and 19) a central shaft 262 journalled for rotation in a substantially square frame or support 266. A pair of collars 266, 266, loosely mounted on central shaft 262, are secured to a hollow cylindrical drum 265 concentric with the axis of said shaft. Drum 265, to which curtain 266 is fixed and about which it is wound, is driven through a yielding drive comprising a plurality of wires 266, two being shown in the illustrated embodiment, which are slidably fixed at the ends in collars 266 and rigidly fixed at the centers in a collar 261. The latter collar is pinned to shaft 262 and rotatable therewith when said shaft is driven through bevel gear 266 mounted thereon. AS a result of the above described structure, drum 265 is driven through said wires and is permitted a limited degree of rotation relative to shaft 262, depending upon the resiliency of wires 266 and the manner in which said wires are held in collars 266.

Both of the curtain rolls are similarly constructed and curtain 256 is suitably wound on said rolls and is adapted to be moved from one roll to the other exposing a new frame of film each time it is moved, Since drums 266 are exactly alike in construction and dimensions, the effective diameter of one roll decreases as that of the other increases when the curtain unwinds from the former to the latter during an exposure, due to the increasing number of curtain thi upon the latter. If, under these circumstances, drums 265 are driven at the same angular velocity, a difference in linear velocities would arise at the drum peripheries tending to wind the curtain at a more rapid rate than it is being unwound and therefore causing an excessive'tension or elongation to be produced in said curtain. Accordingly, the yielding drives are provided for the drums whereby, although the central shafts are driven at equal speeds, the drums are perv mitted relative rotation thereto, sufficient to compensate for the increasing and decreasingdiameters resulting from,dif!erenees.in the number of curtain layers wound on the drums. As a further result of the novel drive construction, it is possible to constantly keep curtain 256 taut since said curtain may readily be mounted on drums 266 under an initial tension. Furthermore, the initial sudden load imparted to the shaft when an exposure is to be made is absorbed in part by the resiliency of the drive, causing a more uniform application of the force to the curtain.

It is highly desirable that the lens elements, once accurately fixed in position, remain undisturbed thereafter, and therefore frame 266 is suitably constructed and curtain 266 and rolls 266 and 261 are suitably mounted thereon, to have the shutter mechanism adapted for ready removal from operative position as a unit without affecting the lens. As shown, frame 266 comprises a U-shaped casting having the two parallel arms 266 and 216 thereof supporting rolls 266 and 26 I, respectively, and said arms and rolls are fitted into operative position by inserting frame 266 into cone casting I16 with the open end of the U-shaped casting foremost. Curtain 266 fits between the lens and a thin plate 211 may be secured across the open end of said casting in the horizontal plane of said curtain, thus adding to the rigidity of the structure and not detracting from its removability, since said plate, when frame 266 is inserted or removed, passes freely between the lens elements along with ourtain 266.

Curtain rolls 266 and 26I are adapted to be driven by means which automatically alternate the direction in which said drums are rotated after each exposure causing the curtain to be alternately wound and unwound from each roll and to expose a film frame each time it is moved across the lenses. As illustrated in Figs. 14 and 16, said curtain rolls are driven through bevel gears 266 mounted on central shafts 262 of said rolls and said gears mesh with a pair of bevel gears 212 secured to a shaft 216. Shaft 216 is in turn adapted to be driven through either of two gears 216, 216 loosely journalled thereon and driven in opposite directions by an annular gear 216. A sleeve 216 slidably keyed between gears 216 to shaft 216 for rotation with said shaft has a collar 211 integral therewith and is provided with axially extending lugs or pawls 216 on each end thereof. The hubs of gears 216 extend beyond the faces of said gears in the direction of sleeve 216 and have suitable openings 216 therein adapted to be engaged-by lugs 216. When sleeve 216 is moved in the direction of one of gears 216, that gear is engaged by those of lugs 216 on the adjacent end of said sleeve and a driving connection in the nature of a jaw coupling from annular gear 216 to curtain rolls 266 and 26! is established.

When an exposure is taken, gear 216 is driven at a predetermined high velocity, by means to be described, and moves curtain 266 and the opening therein past the lenses by means of the concurtain moves to the left, i. e., from the roll 261 to roll 260.

'mounted for reciprocal movementin supports or brackets 283 which are an integral part of frame 263. A member 284 mounted on and suitably pinned toshaft 282 between supports 283 is provided with a groove 285 in the base thereof which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said shaft. A pin 286 eccentrically mounted on or formed with rotary disc or plate 281 cooperates with said groove and is adapted to translate the rotary motion of said disc into reciprocal movement of member 284, thereby actuating sleeve 216. It will be understood that any other suitable linkage, such as a crank and connecting rod, could be employed to impart reciprocal movement to member 284 or to sleeve 211i directly. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, disc 281 preferably rotates a half revolution during each operating cycle, moving sleeve 216 from one extreme position to the other during the single cycle, 1. e., out of engagement with one of gears 214 and into engagement with the other. Disc 281 is preferably integral with a shaft 288 driven by a bevel gear 289 which meshes with a second bevel gear 290. The latter gear is secured to shaft, 206 ,(Figs. 1 and 14) which also drives the cams that control the pressureplate and the metering roll mechanisms.

A high turning torque must necessarily be aptively engaged by a bevel gear 304, shown in Fig. 1, the latter being mounted on a shaft 305, and said shaft is adapted to be driven by a worm and worm wheel drive 306 from shaft 196 (Fig. 10). Accordingly, drum 291 is driven for the same interval thatthe main film is being metered, and the spring drive is wound by said rotation, being prepared for moving curtain 259.

Novel means operable in conjunction with bellows 215 are provided whereby shaft 293 is held against release while drum 291 winds spring 292 and whereby said shaft and, therefore, shutter curtain 259 are released for movement, with the second cyclic expansion of said bellows. The means comprise a pair of cams or ratchet wheels 301 and 308 of similar peripheral contour, each being provided with a single notch, and both being suitably mounted on shaft 293 so as to be displaced 180 to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, cam 301 is shown integral with shaft 393 and cam 308 is secured tothe former by suitable means, such as rivets 309. During the major portion of the cycle of operations, shaft 293 is held against release, 1. e., against clockwise rotation as viewed in Fig. 1'1, by a lever 310 pivotally mounted about a pin 31!. An arm 312 of said lever is adapted to engage the notch in cam 308, thereby holding plied to gear 215 in order that said gear may rotate at a sufficient angular velocity to produce desired exposure speeds of curtain 259. To impart such a torque to said gear, a spring drive comprising a drum 291, a spring 292 and a shaft 293 is provided having said shaft pinned or otherwise suitably secured to said gear. Spring 292, as shown in Fig. 15, is wound about shaft 293 and is fixed at one end to drum 291 and at the other end to said shaft and is adapted to drive the latter, thereby driving gear 215. Means, to be described, are provided whereby shaft 293 is held against rotation during the operating cycle while drum.291 rotates relative thereto in a direction to wind spring 292. A torque tending to turn said shaft is thus set up in the spring, the magnitude of the torque depending on the amount ofrelative rotation between drum 291 and said shaft. When shaft 293 is finally released for rotation, it is driven by said spring and moves curtain 259 to expose the film for a photograph.

Drum 291 is rotated to wind spring 292 by being threadedly secured to a hub 294 of a bevel gear 295, the latter being part of a differential drive. The drive comprises a pair of bevel gears 296 and 291 mounted for rotation on shafts 298 and 299, respectively, said shafts 1 being'iournailed in a worm gear 300. Worm gear 300 has the same against rotation in a clockwise direction. A second' arm 313 also formed with said lever bears against the periphery of a cam 310 mounted on shaft 288, and is yieldingly held in contact with said cam by a coil spring 315. Coil spring 315 is fixed at one end to arm 313 and at the other end to a supporting plate 316 in which pivot pin 311 is mounted and which is secured by means such as screws 311 to frame 2153. Cam 314, as shown, comprises a circular disc having two symmetric and radially projecting portions 318 and 319 integral therewith and disposed diametrically opposite each other and adapted to pivot lever 310 in a clockwise direction when brought into contact with arm 313. Shaft 288 which actuates the means for reversing the shutter drive rotates a half revolution every cycle-of operation and cam 314 is suitably positioned on shaft 288 to have lever 310 pivoted thereby substantially at the end of the cycle.

When lever 310 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1'1, arm 312 moves away from cam 308 and becomes disengaged from the notch therein, thereby permitting rotation of said cam and of shaft 293. At this point in the cycle of operation, the bellows 215 have been collapsed a second time and a pin 320, actuated by said bellows in a manner to be hereinafter described, is in position to engage the notch in cam 301. This limitsithe rotation of shaft 293 to a displacement that is only sufficient to move the notch in 'cam 308' past arm 312 and to free shaft 293 from said arm. Shaft293 is then held against rotation by pin 320 and when said pin is disengaged from the notch in cam 301, shaft 293 is rotated substantially a single revolution and curtain 259, is moved thereby to expose the film. The total rotary movement of shaft 293 during each cycle of operation will not exceed a single revolution, since cam 308 is held by lever 312 at the start of the operation and at the completion of the cycle after an exposure has been taken, 1. e., after pin 320 has been disengaged from cam 301, said lever again engages and holds said cam.

In order that the release of shutter curtain 259 be concurrent with the second expansion of the bellows, pin 320 is suitably secured to or formed integrally with a rod 32I, said rod being slidably mounted for reciprocal movement in a bracket or bearing member 322 which is a part of supporting member 3| 6. A bushing 333 is fixed in member 322 and a collar 324 is attached to rod 32I, so that a compressed coil spring 325 interposed between said bushing and said collar tends to keep pin 320 in engagement with cam 301. A portion of rod 32I extends rearwardly in a horizontal plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the part slidable in bracket 322 and serves as a cam follower, engaging a cam 326 fixed to plate 2 I9 of the bellows structure. Cam 326 has an edge 321 thereof adapted to cooperate with rod 32I in such a manner that when the bellows are in collapsed position, pin 320 is in engagement with cam 301 as shown in full lines in Fig. 17. However, when the bellows are expanded, said cam takes a position, shown by broken lines in Fig. 17, having been moved upward and having caused rod 32I and pin 320 to move to the right and away from cam 301 to clear the notch therein.

Bellows 2 I 5, for reasons hereinbefore disclosed, are expanded twice during the operating cycle, and both times pin 320 is moved to the right and away from cam 301. Nevertheless, the first expansion does not release the shutter mechanism as shaft 293 is then held against rotation by arm 3l2 of lever 3I0 which is in engagement with the notch in cam 308. However, just prior to the completion of the second collapse of the bellows, cam 3H pivots lever 3I0 and permits shaft 293 to rotate the limited amount necessary to keep arm 3l2 disengaged from the notch in cam 308 for a complete revolution so that shaft 293 is then held against rotation only by pin 320. Accordingly, when the bellows are expanded for a second time, shaft 293 is freed for substantially a complete revolution and moves shutter curtain 259 for an exposure. Thus, the shutter mechanism can be actuated to expose the film only after the cycle'of operations, metering andvpositioning the film, is completed.

In order to control the operation of motor I84a, lever 3I0 has a horizontally extending arm 3I0a (Fig. 17) adapted to actuate a switch 31%. The latter, which is suitably mounted on cone casting I15, is connected in the circuit of motor I8la and breaks said circuit when said lever is rotated clockwise as by projection 3I8 or 3I9 of cam 3. After the motor circuit is thus broken, the inertia of the moving parts continues the rotation of said cam until the projecting portion causing the break moves past arm 3 I 3. However, the motor circuit is not closed again by this additional rotation but instead remains open, lever 3I0 being held in the displaced position by cam 308 until the shutter is released. Accordingly, the motor will not resume operation utll a new frame of film must be prepared for exposure.

Means are provided whereby the speed of ourtaln 259 and therefore the exposure timing may be selectively controlled, said means comprising a knob 328 or other manual control (Figs. 1 and 14) readily accessible from the exterior of casing I15. Knob 323 is operatively connected to a bevel gear 329 through which said knob is adapted to drive a second bevel gear 330 mounted on a shaft 33 I. A worm 332 aflixed to or integral with said shaft meshes with gear 300, thereby completing a drive from knob 320 to drum 29I.

since rotation of gear 300 is transmitted to said drum through gears 299 and 291 and gear 295. The speed of gear 215 and therefore the speed of curtain 259 depends on the torque applied thereto by spring 292 which in turn is a function of the rotation of drum 2'9I relative to shaft 293, i. e., of the tension induced in said spring by rotation of drum 29I while shaft 293 is held against rotation. Knob 328 is adapted to vary the effective torque applied to shaft 293 by increasing or decreasing the initial tension in spring 292. Since the driving means, crank I84 or motor I Ila, causes drum 29I to rotate a single revolution, and since shaft 293 upon release rotates a single revolution, the initial tension in spring 292 becomes the controlling factor in determining the speed at which curtain 259 is moved. Accordingly, knob 329 may be rotated to produce the desired curtain speed and i provided with a dial 333 suitably geared to respond to rotation 01' said knob and calibrated to indicate the exposure time when viewed through an opening 334 in the cone casing I16. v

Operation The mounting in the airplane is preferably so designed as to have engagement with the cone portion of the camera, and for loading the camera, the same is removed from the plane, and, if desired, the magazine is detached and taken to a suitable dark room. Cover 25 is removed and the film rolls 30 and 3| are positioned in the magazine for rotation about fixed longitudinal axes on the novel three-point supports provided in chamber 29. The unexposed film 5|, which is wound on roll 30, is then threaded from said roll to roll 3 I, this procedure being simplified due to the fact that pressure plate 63 is held away from magazine 26 by lever 335 and friction roll is carried by the cover. Cover 25 is replaced, whereupon the magazine is ready for mounting on cone 24.

In preparing the film for exposure, pressure plate 63 is raised by means of cam 2I0, follower 209, rods 208 and I02 and arm Ill, said lastnamed parts being actuated by motor Ifla through the mechanism described. Once the film is relieved of the pressure of plate 63, it is metered by drum 64 to expose a new frame, and the rotation of said drum, in order to accurately move the film a predetermined distance, is regulated by the cam mechanism including cam 209 and follower 200, which actuates yoke member 203 and thereby operates Jaw clutch I90, I through which motor Illa drives said drum. Meanwhile. bellows 2I5 are being collapsed by motor IIMa so that when the film metering is complete and plate 63 begins to be lowered said bellows are collapsed. At this point in the cycle,

pawl 220 is tripped by lug 231 and bellows 2I5 are released and expanded rapidly by springs 2", creating a suction in pressure plate grooves I43. Accordingly, the film is smoothed out in the plane of the pressure plate base just prior to the instant it is to be fixed in position between said pressure plate and flange I23 of the cone. thereby eliminating creases and wrinkles in the film.

Motor l84a continues to operate after the first bellows expansion'and winds the shutter spring drive while the shutter-is held against release by arm 3l2 of lever 3I0, said arm engaging cam 300. When spring 292 is energized and the cycle of operations is substantially complete, cam 3H Divots' lever 3I0 in a clockwise direction, thereby aaoaaoo opening motor switch llflb and disengaging arm 3l2 from cam 308. The motor circuit is thus opened but the shutter mechanism is held against operation by pin 320. At this point in the cycle, the bellows have been completely collapsed a second time and are so held when the motor ceases operation.

When solenoid 254 is energized, pawl 22' is tripped and releases bellows US for expansion by spring 218. The expansion of the bellows creates a suction which fixes the main film in the focal plane against pressure plate 63. Expansion of the bellows releases the spring drive of the shutter mechanism by raising cam 326 which latter moves pin 320 away from cam 301. The spring drive now rotates annular gear-215 at a speed which depends on the initial tension introduced in said drive through hand knob 328 and in a direction which depends upon the position of the automatically reversible drive controlled by pin 286 and including sleeve 216, gears 214, sleeve 2", yoke 280 and shaft 282. The reversible drive causes metal curtain 259 to move from the roll 260 or 2H, upon which it was last wound, and expose the main film. The exposure timing depends upon the speed at which the spring drive causes the opening in said curtain to move past the lenses and therefore depends on the initial tension in. spring 292.

During exposure, cam 308 rotates and permits lever 3H1 to be pivoted by spring 3l5 so that when a single revolution of the cam is completed. lever arm 312 again engages and holds said cam against motion. Lever 3") has thus pivoted sufliciently to cause arm Ulla to close switch 310i) and thereby close the circuit through motor I84a, and'initiate another cycle of'operations.

There is thus provided a novel shutter mechanism operable in combination with an aerial camera and adapted to have the shutter curtain thereof located between the lenses. Novel control and driving means are provided for saidshutter mechanism. Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be expressly understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts, as will now occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Reference will accord- ,ingly be had primarily to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. In a shutter mechanism for a camera, a

shutter curtain consisting of a single sheet of beryllium copper.

2. In a shutter mechanism, a spring drive under an initial tension, power means for addimeans, said driving means being adapted when released to move said curtain carrying means, control means for releasing said driving means, actuating means for energizing said driving therewith, and means for actuating said drums.

and effecting an exposure with each actuation, said means comprising driven members, yielding means operatively connecting said members to said drums, driving means and a reversible drive connecting said members to said driving means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a curtain comprising a single sheet of material having an exposure opening of fixed dimensions, a pair of spaced drums, said curtain being secured at each end to one of said drums for movement therewith, and means for actuating said drums and effecting an exposure with each actuation, said means comprising driven members concentric with said drums, means operatively connecting said members to said drums, driving means and a reversible drive connecting said members to said driving means.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a shutter element consisting of a single thickness of curtain having an opening therein, a pair of spaced drums, said curtain being attached to each of said drums and adapted to be moved between said drums when the latter are actuated, and means for actuating said drums, said lastnamed means including an automatically reversible drive whereby the curtain is moved for an exposure each time said drive actuates said drums.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a curtain having an exposure open ng of fixed dimensions, a pair of spaced drums to which said curtain is attached, said drums being adapted to move the latter to effect an exposure each time the same are actuated, and means for actuating said drums, said means comprising driven members, yielding means operatively connectng said driven members to said drums, driving means, a reversible drive connecting said members to said driving means. and means for controlling the speed of operation of said driving means.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a curtain, a pair of spaced drums, said curtain being secured to and wound on said drums to extend therebetween, and" means "for actuating said drums, said means comprising driven members, yielding means operatively connecting said members to said drums, a reversible drive vconnected to said members, and means for varying the speed of said drive.

9. In a shutter mechanism, curtain means, a pair of spaced members supporting said curtain means, and means drivably connected to said members for alternately actuating said members in opposite directions to efiect an exposure with each actuation, said last-named means comprising motor means, a reversible drive connecting said motor means to said members, means for energ zing said motor means and actuating said reversible drive, and means operatively connected to saidmotor means for controlling the speed of operation of saidmotor means.

10. In a shutter mechanism, the combination with driven members and a shutter operatively connected to said members, of spring motor means, a reversible drive connecting said motor means to said driven members, power means for energizing said motor means and for reversing the direction of said drive each time said motor means is energized, and means for varying the tension in said spring motor means to control the speed at which said shutter is driven.

11. In a shutter mechanism, the combination with driven members and a shutter operatively connected to said members, of motor means, a reversible drive connecting said motor means to said driven members, power means for energizing said motor means and for reversing the d=rection of said drive each time said motor means is energized, and means associated with said motor means for controllingthe speed of operation of the latter.

12. In a shutter mechanism, a spring drive under an initial tension, curtain carrying means, a reversible drive 'operatively connecting said spring drive to said curtain carrying means, means for additionally tensioning said spring drive a fixed amount and exposure control means adapted to vary the initial tension of said spring drive to vary the speed of motion of the latter when released.

13. In a shutter mechanism, the combination with a curtain shutter having a single exposure aperture of fixed size of power means for actuat ing said shutter to efiect an exposure each time said shutter is moved across the camera exposure opening, said means comprising a reversible spring drive connected to said curtain shutter, and exposure means operatively connected to said drive for varying the tension thereof to control the speed of operation of said drive.

14. In a shutter mechanism, shutter means, driving means including a driving member and a driven member, said driving member being connected to said shutter means, control means for releasing said driving means, actuating means connected to said driven member for energizing said driving means, and mechanism operatively associated with said driving member, said actuating means, and said control means, said mechanism rendering said control means inoperative and holding said driving member stationary while said driving means are being energized.

15. In a shutter mechanism, shutter means, power means, a member drivably connecting said shutter means to said power means, actuating means for energizing said power means, control means for effecting the release of said power means, and mechanism operatively associated with said member, said actuating means and said control means, said mechanism holding said control means inoperative and said member against movement during the energization of said power means.

16. In a shutter mechanism, the combination with a shutter having an exposure aperture'ot fixed size of means for actuating said shutter to effect an exposure, said means comprising driven members, yielding means operatively connecting said members to said shutter, a reversible spring drive connected to said means, power means for actuating and reversing said drive after each exposure, and means for controlling the speed of said drive. 7

17. In apparatus of the class described, shutter means, driving means operatively connected to said shutter means, said driving means being adapted when released to move said shutter means, control means for releasing said driving means, actuating means for energizing said driving means, and mechanism operatively associated with said actuating means, said driving means and said control means, said mechanism holding said control means and preventing movement of said shutter means during energization of said driving means.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a shutter element consisting of a curtain having an exposure opening of fixed dimensions, a pair of spaced drums, said curtain being attached to each of said drums and adapted to be moved between said drums when the latter are actuated, and means for actuating said drums, said lastnamed means including an automatically reversible spring drive whereby the curtain is moved in opposite directions for successive exposures, and means for manually adjusting the tension of said spring drive thereby controlling the speed of operation of said drive.

AMBROSIUS BRIECHLE. ROY 'I. HURLEY. GEORGE E. MERRITT. 

